1 Year Later, Medical Crews Reflect On Haiti Quake

Doctors, Aide Groups Continue To Help Devastated Country

Wednesday marked one year since a devastating earthquake leveled parts of Haiti, and many people from the Maryland area who spent time helping survivors reflected on what they saw and how the country is coping.

On Wednesday, the bustling streets of Port-au-Prince grew quiet as people in the capital city marked the anniversary of the worst natural disaster in Haiti's history. It's estimated that more than 230,000 people were killed in the quake.

The USNS Comfort set sail for Haiti four days after the earthquake. The trip was the largest effort ever put forth by the hospital ship.

Year Later, Crews Reflect

Chief Eric Davenport, who was in charge of nursing services on the Comfort, remembered it well.

"That was the time that we took Comfort to its capacity," he said.

The crew of almost 1,000 treated nearly 900 patients day and night before it headed back to Baltimore on March 10.

"Being able to be a part of probably one of the largest military humanitarian assistance programs was incredible," Davenport said.

Other humanitarian groups and medical staff from the Baltimore area reflected, too.

"I think what we've seen over the last year is the tremendous resilience of the Haitian people, and them starting to build back," said Sean Callahan, the vice president of overseas operations for Catholic Relief Services.

He said despite reports that only 5 percent to 10 percent of Haiti has been repaired, a lot of ground is being covered.

Adopted Boy Thriving

11 News reporter Lowell Melser was at a hospital in Port-au-Prince last year where more than 60 people were killed after the building collapsed. Catholic Relief Services was there, too, and Callahan said the hospital is almost done with rebuilding.

"We've actually relocated the hospital at this time and set up a temporary hospital so we could continue to service the clientele that was being served there. We're in the process of finalizing rubble removal and developing a plan for its reconstruction," he said.

University of Maryland Medical System staff also helped out.

"The thing to remember about the earthquake, in terms of Port-au-Prince, is that it was almost like a complete destruction of everything. ... It was massive," said Shock Trauma nurse Laura Cabahug.

Many of the survivors are currently facing other challenges, including a cholera outbreak and political unrest.

The Haitian people remain positive, doctors said, and time will tell if the country can come back from the disaster.